More than 600 years ago, Duke Henry of Bavaria granted the district of Ried “rights and freedoms such as are enjoyed by Landshut and other towns in Bavaria”. These included two market days, to be held at the beginning and the end of summer. 

One market took place on 29 June, the feast day of St. Peter and Paul, 

and a second market was later introduced on the Sunday after the feast of St. Giles. This was the origin of the Ried festival and the Ried trade fair.   

Around 500 years ago, a third market was authorised. The St. Nicholas market still takes place around 6th December. 

The annual cycle was later completed with a fourth market day in the middle of Lent. 

For 14 days before the market, during the market and for 14 days afterwards, it was customary to have Freiung, or tax holidays. A Freiung used to be an area that was free of the tax requirements and other laws that were generally applicable. As a sign of the Freiung, a flag was hoisted in front of the town hall and the Marktfreiungsstange, or market freiung pole, was put up. The market was granted its own jurisdiction for the duration of the Freiung. 

Any breach of the Freiung was severely punished: 

During the Freiung, if anyone  “killed a man, he too should be “put to death”. If any man wounds another, he shall pay 32 Pfennigs in recompense or have his hand struck off...”

From its inception, the little daily market provided the citizens of Ried with fresh produce and fuel. On Fridays and feast days, it also offered fish.

A weekly market is still held on the lower part of the Main Square on Tuesday mornings. You can buy flowers and regional specialities there.